Lauren Thompson

OWNER/INSTRUCTOR

Lauren Thompson has been teaching Pilates (and yoga!) since 2007 and holds an MA in Counseling and Guidance from UMKC. With her extensive background in both how the body moves and how our minds work, Lauren brings a unique perspective to her clients, using techniques from both worlds to help her clients achieve total health, mentally and physically.

Through pilates and yoga, Lauren has worked with athletes on cross-training to improve technique. She also works with clients who have serious medical conditions, such as scoliosis, hip replacements, neuropathy, ataxia, and Parkinson’s disease, to regain mobility and ease pain.

Through counseling, Lauren has worked with clients on stress management, pain management, eating disorders, improving body image and self-esteem, diet adherence, weight loss, and substance abuse. She enjoys introducing others to mindfulness through movement and knows how to keep clients motivated and achieve their fitness goals!

A firm believer in the importance of women’s health, Lauren is also a certified Pre and Postnatal Pilates Specialist and is certified through the Pink Ribbon Program to provide pilates rehabilitation for breast cancer patients and survivors. Pre-and postnatal sessions focus on general wellness and recovery during and after pregnancy. Lauren is also certified to help women with healing exercises for Diastasis Recti, C-section and Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction.

Lauren holds a BFA in dance and a BA in psychology with a minor in women and gender studies from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She is active in the Kansas City arts community and continues to perform. Lauren is also a board member of the Young Friends of Art steering committee for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and BARRE for the Kansas City Ballet.

Taryn Layne-Mulhern

INSTRUCTOR

Taryn discovered Pilates in 2007, as a dancer looking for a way to improve her strength and stability, without limiting mobility. She was delighted by the results Pilates provided, and eventually decided to pursue becoming an instructor.

Taryn has been teaching Pilates since 2009, and completed certifications in mat and equipment with training through both Stott Pilates and the Kane School. She received her Pilates training and certifications in NYC, where she has also attended many continuing education workshops, including the Functional Anatomy for Movement and Injuries (FAMI) workshop at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She continuously strives to gain more knowledge about anatomy and various movement techniques, hoping to broaden her perspective, and deepen her approach.

Additionally, Taryn has been teaching ballet for over ten years, and is an American Ballet Theatre certified teacher. Taryn loves helping people of all ages and abilities work towards their goals, and achieve healthier bodies, with the increased functionality and greater ease of movement Pilates can provide.

Fallon Schwalbe

INSTRUCTOR

Hello! I am Fallon Schwalbe. I was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a child and teenager I enjoyed sports, later getting into weight lifting and running. After graduating high school, I went off to college and acquired a degree in Apparel Merchandising, Design and Production and a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies from Iowa State University. For 6 years after completing college, my husband and I moved around from Portland to Seattle to Denver while I worked in various retail buying and planning positions.

While in Denver I started taking Pilates and Yoga classes offered through my employer. When we decided to move back to the Midwest I made the choice to stay home with my daughter. I opened an Etsy shop focused on children’s dress-up clothes to satisfy my love for apparel construction and my daughters’ desire to play pretend. At the same time I started to really get into local fitness classes, including Pilates. After my second daughter was born I decided to make the leap into teaching.

I am currently certified as a Balanced Body Pilates Mat Instructor and AFAA Group Fitness Instructor. I am also working to complete my Pilates Comprehensive Certification (including Chairs, Barrels, and Trapeze Table). I look forward to meeting new clients and can’t wait to begin teaching at Thrive Pilates and Movement Studio.

Mandy Dolan

INSTRUCTOR

Mandy began her yoga studies in 2004 and started teaching Ashtanga andvinyasa style yoga two years later. Mandy is currently studying with Chase Bossart, who teaches a more gentle and therapeutic style.

Through this process Mandy has embraced the broader teachings of yoga: yogic philosophy and texts, which include āsana (postures), prāṇāyāma (breathing techniques), meditation, vedic chanting and the practical application of the tools of yoga for therapy.

Stay up to date!

Sign up for our newsletter for our Limited Time Offers and Class Updates.